Orion Saga

Part 2

Celestial Battle

Chapter 7: Admissions

The fiery eyes are anxious. The woman walks over to the balcony and leans over its edge looking at the sky. When the eyes are pulled away, they fall on Atlas in the garden below.

The women exchange looks and Atlas nods slightly before going to Scorpius. He turns when he feels her hand on his arm. "The Pleiades are anxious."

"I know."

"Then have you decided how we'll take care of this? The warriors are waiting for battle."

Nodding, he lets his hand glide over his black hair. I'd like to take care of this quickly." In his mind, he sees the pained steel gray eyes of King Perseus. "Maybe the best way is an all out surprise attack. We don't want to give Orion any sort of time to retaliate."

The white head bobs up and down. "That probably would be best."

*~*~*~*~*

Zentora's opaque brown eyes gaze up at the paintings. She turns to enter the next room when she bumps into someone. "Gomen...I-"

"Are you alright?"

When she hears the deep smooth voice, she looks up to see Samaru offering her his hand. Taking it, he helps her to her feet. The two of them look at each other for a moment in awkward silence. All the young woman can think of is her last dream.

Before she can say anything, she sees him turning to leave. Samaru....wait."

When he turns, she sees the pained look in his eyes. "What is it?"

His voice is gruff as it enters her ears. "I-"

Samaru interrupts. "Look...I'm going to be honest with you. Sometimes...sometimes you make me want to give up. I'm very frustrated right now. Maybe even a little angry." He sighs when he looks at her. Her head is lowered and the thick locks are covering her eyes.

Zentora can feel his hands on her face. Tilting her chin up, he gently brushes the bangs from her eyes to look at her. "If you would just look. Deep down inside yourself. You know everything I'm telling you is true. I can't understand why you won't accept it."

She closes her eyes and when they open again he sees not only tears, but the the same thing that makes him keep trying. The evidence that she is trying to remember. Only this time, instead of fading away, it lingers in her eyes.

The soft voice wavers as she speaks. "I-I know."

Surprised eyes look at her. "What?"

She smiles a little through her tears. "I know. There are a lot of things that have been coming to me. Some slowly, and some were pretty fast."

Samaru gazes at her as he listens. "I was kind of worried. I still am."

"But why?"

She closes her eyes and pulls away from him gently. "I don't think you really understand what this is doing to me." She walks over to a bench facing a wall of paintings and sits down. It takes her a few minutes to gather her thoughts before speaking. "Well...it's just...this isn't..." Sighing with frustration, she shakes her head.

Samaru watches her for a moment before looking away. He rubs the back of his neck for a second or two and walks over to her. Sitting down, he speaks. "Maybe I should apologize to you...I wasn't thinking."

Zentora looks at him. "I was hurting and instead of giving you time..."

Samaru closes his eyes when he feels her hands on his. He can feel her entwining her fingers in with his own and relaxes his hands. Her next words resound in his ears. "I understand how you felt then. I felt the same way when you left."

He turns to look at her. "What?"

Shat stares at the painting as she speaks nervously. "That night...we were visiting the planets. You left me to help fight."

Samaru narrows his eyes. Of all the things that he had told her of their life together, he knows he never mentioned this. "How long have you known?"

The girl shrugs. "A little while now. It took some time for me to sort things out."

The young man nods. Zentora continues. "I just didn't want tit to be true."

Samaru stands up. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere a little more private."

*~*~*~*~*

The two of them walk into the empty apartment. Zentora stands quietly waiting for Samaru to say something. He walks over to her and the two of them stand, looking at one another.

Laughing nervously, Zentora sits down on the sofa. A puzzled Samaru look at her. "What?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing. This all just seems like a bad movie."

He smiles at her. "Maybe. But I'm happy with the plot."

"Yeah...me too."

*~*~*~*~*

"With everything that's been going on, I didn't want to-"

"Shhh...it's okay. I think I get it." Samaru pulls her close and kisses her. "I know."

Closing her eyes, she sinks into his arms as the memories engulf her.

*~*~*~*~*

The door opens and the two women walk into the apartment to see the two of them on the couch. Ogechi smiles. "Look at them, Bellatrix!"

The serious brown eyes soften when she spies the sleeping forms of Zentora and her prince. "I'll go get a blanket. We'll let them sleep."

Ogechi watches them happily until Matsume returns.